Bag and partition for a bag

ABSTRACT

The invention relates to a partition for the inside of a bag, especially for a handbag, said partition comprising a receiving part for at least one flat light source. Furthermore, the partition is transparent at least in the region of the at least one light source, on at least one side.

The present invention pertains to a partition for the interior space of a bag, especially a handbag. Furthermore, the present invention pertains to a lighting means for lighting the inside of the bag, wherein the said lighting means comprises at least one flat light source.

U.S. Pat. No. 5,268,827 describes a bag of the type mentioned in the introduction, in which the lighting is brought about by means of an electroluminescence lamp.

The drawback of the prior-art device is that a relatively high percentage of the space available in the bag is needed because of the design of the lighting means. Moreover, the installation and the removal of the lighting means is associated with a considerable expenditure of time.

Therefore, one object of the present invention is to guarantee the lighting of the interior of a bag as uniformly as possible with a comparatively low energy consumption of the lighting means, the lighting means needed for this having to be compact and easy to handle.

This object is accomplished according to the present invention with a partition of the type mentioned in the introduction by the partition having a receiving part for at least one flat light source, and by the partition being, furthermore, transparent at least in the area of the at least one light source on at least one side.

It is a merit of the present invention that because of its design, the lighting means does not require additional space, but only takes up that space that a partition, which is usually found in handbags, occupies.

It is advantageous if the partition can be removed and can be connected with the bag, for example, via prior-art fastening means such as a Velcro connection, a zip fastener or the like. A partition thus becomes able to be used in a plurality of handbags or a larger space is made available in the bag.

In another embodiment of the present invention, the partition is rigidly connected with the bag. This is especially suitable for bags in which it is not possible to fix the lighting means by means of a Velcro fastener, a zip fastener or a similar means because of the format of the bag.

Furthermore, the light source present in the partition may advantageously be able to be switched on and/or off by means of a switch. It is especially advantageous if at least one battery is accommodated in a battery compartment located on the top side of the partition and is used to supply the at least one light source with power, the power supply being automatically interrupted after a preset time.

In another advantageous embodiment, the partition is transparent on both sides at least in the area of the light source. This makes possible the simultaneous lighting of two compartments of the bag with only one light source.

In an alternative embodiment, the partition is completely transparent, which in turn leads to complete lighting of both compartments of the bag.

The light source of the partition may be an EL module, especially an EL mat, with the advantages that energy-saving lighting of the bag is guaranteed as a result and the weight of the bag is reduced. Such luminous mats are available commercially at a low cost.

Furthermore, the object set is accomplished with a bag mentioned in the introduction by at least one light source being designed according to the present invention such that it forms a partition for the interior space of the bag or that at least one partition, which has a receiving part for the at least one flat light source, is provided in the interior space of the bag, the said partition being transparent on at least one side at least in the area of the at least one light source.

It is advantageous if the at least one light source is an EL luminous mat.

Lighting is approximately optimal if the at least one flat light source is arranged essentially in parallel to the broader outer surfaces of the bag, i.e., when the light source is arranged essentially in the direction of the longitudinal extension of the bag. An especially good division of the interior space of the bag, which is currently used in many bags, is thus obtained as well.

Provisions may be made, in principle, for the flat light source to be arranged rigidly in the bag. This is especially suitable for newly manufactured bags, which are provided with a lighting means according to the present invention already at the manufacturing plant.

A bag according to the present invention can be used and utilized in an especially flexible manner if the at least one light source is arranged removably in the bag. If the lighting is not needed in such a bag any more, the lighting means can be removed from the bag in this embodiment.

In another variant of the present invention, the at least one light source is integrated in at least one partition, which is removable and can be connected with the bag, for example, by means of prior-art fastening means such as Velcro connection, zip fastener or the like.

Embodiments of the bag according to the present invention in which the at least one partition is rigidly connected with the bag are possible as well.

To make possible the simple handling of the lighting means, the light source located in the at least one partition can be switched on and/or off by means of a slide switch.

In another bag according to the present invention, the at least one battery is accommodated in a battery compartment located on the top side of the at least one partition and is used to supply the at least one light source with power.

It is also advantageous if the power supply is automatically interrupted a preset time after the switching on of the light source in order to prevent premature discharge of the battery.

The at least one partition is transparent according to the present invention on both sides at least in the area of the at least one light source.

The present invention will be explained in greater detail below on the basis of exemplary embodiments, which are shown in the drawings. In the drawings,

FIG. 1 shows a schematic view of a partition with integrating lighting and

FIG. 2 shows a schematic view of a bag according to the present invention with a flat lighting means.

FIG. 1 shows a partition 3, which is equipped according to the present invention with a light module (9). It is advantageous if this light source 9 is a so-called EL light module (“electroluminescent”).

EL light modules or luminous foils are essentially a luminous layer, for example, one consisting of phosphor, which is excited to light by applying an alternating electric field. Uniform lighting can be achieved with such a luminous foil while the power consumption is low at the same time and the service life is consequently long. In addition, it releases a small amount of heat, and is especially well suited for use, as in the present invention, for being arranged in inner surfaces of bags due to the extremely flat design. The power consumption is extremely low especially if the lighting is switched frequently on and off, and only a round cell is needed for the power supply.

In one possible embodiment, the luminous mat 9 has a dimension of 200 mm×200 mm×3 mm (length×width×thickness). Due to these dimensions and the materials used, such light sources are characterized by a high level of flexibility, which is also advantageous for the comfort of the bag's user.

This light module 9 in the form of a luminous foil or mat is advantageously integrated according to FIG. 1 with a power supply unit, for example, in the form of a battery 4, and an actuating element 5 for switching the light module 9 on and off. The electronic unit 10 controls the automatic switching off of the light source after switching on, so that needless discharge of the battery 4 is avoided.

The actuating element 5 is preferably designed as a slide switch on the top side of the partition 3. Undesired switching on can be easily prevented from occurring by the use of a slide switch.

FIG. 2 shows a bag 1 according to the present invention, wherein the lighting means 3 acts as a partition. Especially good lighting of the interior space 2 is achieved if the at least one partition 3 extends from one side wall 6 to the opposite side wall 7 of the bag 1.

This partition is completely transparent in the optimal case, as a result of which both compartments are illuminated especially well.

Only one lighting means has been referred to so far in both the drawings and the specification. However, provisions may, of course, also be made, in principle, for arranging a plurality of such flat lighting means 3 in the bag, as a result of which the bag is divided into multiple compartments, on the one hand, and each of these compartments is optimally illuminated, on the other hand.

The present invention is preferably used in handbags, but it can also be used for purses, laptop bags, suitcases, travel bags, other briefcases, in principle, for all bags in which a user searches for objects, especially small objects.

As is shown in the drawings, the flat light source is arranged essentially in parallel to the broader outer surfaces of the bag. It is, of course, also possible to arrange the light source, for example, in parallel to the short sides of the bag. It shall, of course, be ascertained in such a case that a correspondingly strong light source is used or a plurality of such lighting means are arranged next to one another in the bag to ensure optimal lighting of the bag on both sides of the light source. 

1. Said partition for the interior space of a said bag, especially for a handbag, characterized in that the said partition has a receiving part for at least one said flat light source, and that, furthermore, the said partition is transparent on at least one side at least in the area of the at least one said light source.
 2. Said partition in accordance with claim 1, characterized in that it is removable and can be connected with the said bag, for example, by means of prior-art fastening means such as a Velcro fastener, zip fastener or the like.
 3. Said partition in accordance with claim 1, characterized in that it is rigidly connected with the said bag.
 4. Said partition in accordance with claim 1, characterized in that the said light source located in the said partition can be switched on and/or off by means of a said switch.
 5. Said partition in accordance with claim 1, characterized in that at least one said battery is accommodated in a said battery compartment located on the top side of the said partition and is used to supply the said, at least one light source with power.
 6. Said partition in accordance with claim 5, characterized in that the power supply is automatically interrupted after a preset time beginning from the switching on of the said light source.
 7. Said partition in accordance with claim 1, characterized in that it is transparent on both sides at least in the area of the said light source.
 8. Said partition in accordance with claim 1, characterized in that the said flat light source is an EL module, especially an EL mat.
 9. Said bag with a said lighting means for illuminating the interior of the said bag, wherein the said lighting means comprises at least one said flat light source, characterized in that the at least one said light source is designed such that it forms a said partition for the interior space of the said bag, and characterized in that at least one said partition, which has a receiving part for at least one said flat light source, is provided in the interior space of the said bag, wherein the said partition is transparent on at least one side at least in the area of the at least one said light source.
 10. Said bag in accordance with claim 9, characterized in that the said at least one flat light source is an EL luminous mat.
 11. Said bag in accordance with claim 9, characterized in that the at least one said flat light source is arranged essentially in parallel to the broader outer surfaces of the said bag.
 12. Said bag in accordance with claim 9, characterized in that the at least one said flat light source is arranged rigidly in the said bag.
 13. Said bag in accordance with claim 9, characterized in that the at least one said light source is arranged removably in the said bag.
 14. Said bag in accordance with claim 9, characterized in that the at least one said partition is removable and can be connected with the said bag, for example, by means of prior-art fastening means such as a Velcro fastener, zip fastener or the like.
 15. Said bag in accordance with claim 9, characterized in that the said at least one partition is rigidly connected with the said bag.
 16. Said bag in accordance with claim 9, characterized in that the said light source located in the at least one said partition can be switched on and/or off by means of a said slide switch.
 17. Said bag in accordance with claim 9, characterized in that at least one said battery is accommodated in a said battery compartment located on the top side of the at least one said partition and is used to supply the at least one said light source with power.
 18. Said bag in accordance with claim 17, characterized in that the power supply is automatically interrupted after a preset time after the switching on of the said light source.
 19. Said bag in accordance with claim 9, characterized in that the at least one said partition is transparent on both sides at least in the area of the at least one said light source. 